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A Message from Margaret Roach

The Urgent Garden Question Forum is part of A Way to Garden, but there is a difference between it and the blog itself. Stated simply:

On the blog, I choose the topic and post about it, and readers may wish to comment in response.

On the forum, the subject matter is driven by you. You initiate the conversation, and (hopefully) chime in to help one another and just get acquainted. I will stop in, but not answer every question; this is a place for community-driven discussion about anything reasonable that interests gardeners.

To post on the forum, you must register. The process is simple (link above). To get a photo to accompany your posts, called a Gravatar, go here.

Four overall things will enhance the experience:

Search before asking a question to see if there’s already a thread (and even maybe an answer!) on that subject.

Scan the list of forums within the system to see which one is the place for your post.

If you want to have general conversation, the General forum would be the best place to begin.

When you do post something, give it a good subject line (title) – so not “A Perennial Question” but “How to Divide Daylilies” or “When to Transplant Peonies.” This makes the topic more accessible to others who may have your answer. For important etiquette rules, please read “Getting Started” at the top of the Forums. Thanks for your visit.

LILAC PRUNING

This topic contains 3 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by soo 1 year, 8 months ago.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Author	Posts
Author	Posts
July 17, 2009 at 8:42 am #17529
MaureenQC
July 17, 2009 at 8:42 am #17530
MaureenQC	I live in zone 4 and have a Syringa Meyeri Palibin lilac tree that is 6 feet tall and approximately 10 years old. I have seen elsewhere on the internet that if pruning, we must do it immediately after the blooms have faded. My problem is that my tree has two blooming periods. Should I have pruned after the first? Or should I prune during the second blooming (it is starting now and should fade by end of July)? Or is August too late to prune? Thanks, Maureen
September 4, 2009 at 3:34 am #17531
margaret	Other than deadheading spent flowers, I don’t prune anything harder than that late in the summer. Details here: http://awaytogarden.com/garden-faq/pruning-faqs I would do after first bloom phase.
September 17, 2011 at 11:35 pm #17532
soo	Okay, so today I went out and started maniacally pruning a huge hedge of over grown lilacs. Today being Sept. 17, 2011. I know, not the right timing. But this is a summer house, I’m not always here at the optimum pruning time, and I’m willing to sacrifice next year’s bloom for a fuller healthier hedge that doesn’t block our view. I was planning to do it earlier but I have new neighbors and didn’t want to freak them out by hacking down the privacy that the hedge provides. But now they’re gone for the summer, so the crazed pruner strikes. Out of season, argh. This is Michigan, zone 4. I know lilacs are hardy, but have I pushed them too far? We won’t get a hard frost for another month or two due to the “warmth” of Lake Huron. Also, I tried to leave the leafy sides of the hedge intact, but the inner parts of the hedge are just 10-12 foot long trunks, about 2″ in diameter, with leaves at the top. I cut them down to about 5 feet, and they’re pretty well hidden by the side shrubs, but do I need to take them down even shorter? I’m afraid if I do it will look really strange, like a trench with spindly lilacs on the side. But if I don’t, next year’s growth (assuming they’ll grow) won’t be very healthy. Can I leave them as they are, hope for the best, and then when they’re sending up all their new growth next summer, cut some of the older ones down to the right height? Which is 2-3 feet? Feel like an idiot for doing this. I knew it was bad timing, but it was a gorgeous fall day and on impulse I just started lopping and sawing. Any advice, sympathy or condolences much appreciated.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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